Garden House (S aspect from Towne Gate). Photo A Curtis (2010).
We have been looking into the origins of Garden House, a stone-built, two-storey house occupying a prominent position in the centre of the village between the Church and the former Town Farm. It has a large enclosed garden on the south side which fronts onto Towne Gate. The plot is approximately 70m long by 25m wide and is shown as a garden or orchard on the 1st Edition OS Map published in 1859.
Garden House (N aspect from Chare Bank). Photo A Curtis (2010).
The 1:2,500 OS Map published in 1897 shows the property divided into two and a long access drive through the garden from Towne Gate. The terraced houses of Mushroom Row lie to the west as does the (then new) Methodist Chapel.
OS 1:2500 (1897). old-maps.co.uk
The property and its enclosed garden are clearly shown on the Tithe Award map of 1848 (numbered 9). Another plan of the village dated 1856 shows the property in the ownership of Nathaniel & John Clayton. Many parts of the village were owned by the Clayton family, including Bays Leap Farm and Heddon Mill, north of the village.
Small parcels of land in the village have other owners at that time, e.g. Messrs. Orde, Collinwood & Dutton immediately west, east (Town Farm) and north of Garden House; ‘heirs of the late J.M. Bates' (the areas occupied by Heddon Square east of the Swan Inn, and Mushroom Row (NE of the church).
Small parcels of land in the village have other owners at that time, e.g. Messrs. Orde, Collinwood & Dutton immediately west, east (Town Farm) and north of Garden House; ‘heirs of the late J.M. Bates' (the areas occupied by Heddon Square east of the Swan Inn, and Mushroom Row (NE of the church).
Tithe Award, Enlarged Plan (30th December 1848). Garden House is the property numbered 9.
Cadwallader J Bates (XXII. Heddon-on-the-Wall: The Church and Parish, Archaeologia aeliana v11 p240-294, 1886) provides useful early history.
He cites three leading families who appear to have settled in Heddon village in the 1500s/1600s: the Fenwicks, the Cresswells and the Barkases:
He cites three leading families who appear to have settled in Heddon village in the 1500s/1600s: the Fenwicks, the Cresswells and the Barkases:
In the interval [113], three leading families appear to have settled in Heddon village the Fenwicks, the Creswells, and the Barkases [114].
....
Ann Barkas by her will, A.D. 1585, desired to be buried in Heddon Churchyard. She left her property among her children, George Barkas, Jeffrey Barkas, Anne Barkas, and Elizabeth Grenooe, and appointed as their respective guardians, her brother William Mydleton [116], her brother-in-law Symon Ladleye, William Hill, and Elizabeth Grenooe's father (sic) Steven Grenooe. The witnesses were William Mydelton, Symond Ladleye, Steven Grenooe, Edward Stocco, and James Hobson. The inventory was taken by Edward Cresswell, Edward Stoccoe, Matthew Foster, and Jeffrey Barkas.
The will of Anne Cresswell of Heddon-on-the-Wall, 2 March, 1614, directs her body to be buried in Heddon Church, and mentions her sons Anthony, Clement, and Arthur [117], her daughter Margaret Barkas, Isabell [118] her son's wife, William Barkas, her son Clement's daughter Mabell Barkas, and her son Arthur's daughter Mabell [119].
Through the Hedworths of Harraton, co. Durham, the Cresswells of Cresswell and the Fenwicks of East Heddon were near cousins. Cuthbert Cresswell, a younger brother of John Cresswell of Cresswell, was Queen Elizabeth's supervisor of coal-mines in Northumberland; and Richard Fenwick, her receiver for Wylam and Ellington, employed Robert Cresswell as his deputy.
The Cresswells at Heddon lived in a house just east of the churchyard, which was rebuilt in 1821 ; they eventually farmed a quarter of Heddon-on-the-Wall township. William Cresswell died in 1730 "at least 90 years of age," and there were Cresswells christened at Heddon as late as 1771. About 1780, the family are said to have ruined themselves by horse-racing, and their farm was let to Matthew Robson from North Tyne [120]. It is curious to see how the cadets of ancient houses stayed on at home in their own county, descending from knights and squires to yeomen, and, probably, at last to mere labourers.
George Clark in his Story of Heddon on the Wall, written in the 1960s, repeats the passage about the Cresswell’s house to the east of the churchyard and identifies this as ‘probably Garden House’.
However, does Bates' text imply that the present house was rebuilt in 1821, perhaps not by a Cresswell, but only on the site of a former Cresswell house.
However, does Bates' text imply that the present house was rebuilt in 1821, perhaps not by a Cresswell, but only on the site of a former Cresswell house.
This website has several other references to Garden House including these below:
Occupations in Heddon from 1800
The people who lived in Garden House used to sell some of their spare produce to villagers. It was possible to buy 2d of 'potstuff' from them and also a bag of apples or pears for 1d.
Monuments of Heddon churchyard
152) In loving memory of my dear mother Jane Edwards who died at Garden House Heddon on the Wall Dec 25th 1894 aged 82 years.
Heddon in 1901
Garden House, to the east, was divided into two properties: one of four rooms, and one of two. The larger house was occupied by Bartholomew Watson (67) described as Market Gardener, born in High Callerton. Two elderly sisters lived next door: Isabella Curley (88) and Dorothy ?Watkin (85).
Sir James Knott
In 1918, Sir James bought property in Heddon village from the trustees of the Clayton family.
His plan had been to develop Heddon on the Wall as a model village.
In 1924 Sir James Knott decided to live abroad and went to the island of Jersey. Sir James’ sale of property in Heddon comprising 32 lots, including East Town Farm, Clayton Terrace, Blue Row, Garden House (in village), W.A. Waugh’s house and shop, and adjoining houses, Blacksmith’s shop (now Co-op store), and the Three Tuns Inn, of which Mr R Thompson (‘Spitty Dick’) was landlord, took place on 11th March 1924 under Mr Robert Donkin.
Memory of Mrs Elizabeth Elenora ('Nora') Eames (nee Tulip)
Mrs Jordan was the first Secretary [WI]. She lived at Garden House and was a retired schoolmistress.
Conversation with William (Alec) AND Winnie Watson, March 2001
When old Willie Jordan died George Charlton bought Garden House. He retired and he and his Mother lived there.
N.B. Can’t always be sure if these refer to the same Garden House (the one in Heddon village shown above) or the property of the same name situated just north of Close House below Close Lea.
Occupations in Heddon from 1800
The people who lived in Garden House used to sell some of their spare produce to villagers. It was possible to buy 2d of 'potstuff' from them and also a bag of apples or pears for 1d.
Monuments of Heddon churchyard
152) In loving memory of my dear mother Jane Edwards who died at Garden House Heddon on the Wall Dec 25th 1894 aged 82 years.
Heddon in 1901
Garden House, to the east, was divided into two properties: one of four rooms, and one of two. The larger house was occupied by Bartholomew Watson (67) described as Market Gardener, born in High Callerton. Two elderly sisters lived next door: Isabella Curley (88) and Dorothy ?Watkin (85).
Sir James Knott
In 1918, Sir James bought property in Heddon village from the trustees of the Clayton family.
His plan had been to develop Heddon on the Wall as a model village.
In 1924 Sir James Knott decided to live abroad and went to the island of Jersey. Sir James’ sale of property in Heddon comprising 32 lots, including East Town Farm, Clayton Terrace, Blue Row, Garden House (in village), W.A. Waugh’s house and shop, and adjoining houses, Blacksmith’s shop (now Co-op store), and the Three Tuns Inn, of which Mr R Thompson (‘Spitty Dick’) was landlord, took place on 11th March 1924 under Mr Robert Donkin.
Memory of Mrs Elizabeth Elenora ('Nora') Eames (nee Tulip)
Mrs Jordan was the first Secretary [WI]. She lived at Garden House and was a retired schoolmistress.
Conversation with William (Alec) AND Winnie Watson, March 2001
When old Willie Jordan died George Charlton bought Garden House. He retired and he and his Mother lived there.
N.B. Can’t always be sure if these refer to the same Garden House (the one in Heddon village shown above) or the property of the same name situated just north of Close House below Close Lea.
There are two modern red-brick semi-detached houses just east of Garden House. The closest is called Romanby House & the eastern one is called Cresswell House. Whether this is purely coincidental or a memory of the original builders of Garden House I do not know.
In 2010, a planning application (CM/20090647) to build a dormer bungalow in the front garden of Garden House was refused on the following grounds:
- The proposed dwelling house, due to being sited upon green field land, would not be an effective / efficient use of land.
- The proposed dwelling house would harm the setting of the Garden House heritage asset, would not be compatible with the distinctive vernacular present in the locality, and would undermine any future attempt to secure Conservation Area status forHeddon.
Photo of Garden House and adjoining properties in support of planning application CM/20090647 (2009).
Wikitree
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cresswell-295
John (Johannes) Cresswell was born at Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland in 1667 (christened 27 October 1667), the son of George and Isabella Cresswell. He married Elizabeth Robson on 3rd January 1697 in Hexham. Their son William Cresswell was born in 1698.
Sources:
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975: 27 Oct 1667, Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland, christening, Johannes CRESSWELL, son of George and Isabella Cresswell. Film no. 0252500-0252502.
England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973: 3 Jan 1697, Hexham, Northumberland, John CRASSWELL and Elizabeth ROBSON. Film no. 991802.
Pedigree of Cresswell family in Hodgson’s History of Northumberland (Part 2, Volume 2)
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AxYMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA202
Cresswells in John Burke (1835)
35 Cresswells are listed at Heddon on the Wall between 1666 and 1771 by a family diarist on rootsweb.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cresswell-295
John (Johannes) Cresswell was born at Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland in 1667 (christened 27 October 1667), the son of George and Isabella Cresswell. He married Elizabeth Robson on 3rd January 1697 in Hexham. Their son William Cresswell was born in 1698.
Sources:
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975: 27 Oct 1667, Heddon on the Wall, Northumberland, christening, Johannes CRESSWELL, son of George and Isabella Cresswell. Film no. 0252500-0252502.
England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973: 3 Jan 1697, Hexham, Northumberland, John CRASSWELL and Elizabeth ROBSON. Film no. 991802.
Pedigree of Cresswell family in Hodgson’s History of Northumberland (Part 2, Volume 2)
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=AxYMAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA202
Cresswells in John Burke (1835)
35 Cresswells are listed at Heddon on the Wall between 1666 and 1771 by a family diarist on rootsweb.
From Durham University Catalogue of Howard Family Papers Relating to Northumberland:
N77/4 20 January 1656
(1) Martyn Fenwicke of Kyneton, Northumberland, Gentleman and Elizabethhis wife
Robert Fenwicke of Kyneton, Gentleman
(2) Hon. Charles Howard of Naward Castle, Cumberland, Esq.
Henry Widdrington of Blackheddon, Esq.For £150 the Fenwickes grant to Howard and Widdrington a farmhold or tenementin Heddon upon the Wall, now or late in the possession or occupation of JohnCreswell, Yeoman.Signed by the three Fenwickes; Martin in presence of Will. Widdrington, CharlesSelby and Gawine Collingwood, Elizabeth in that of Nicholas Whitehead and ThomasHarte, and Robert of Will. Widdrington, Tho. Hankin(?), Gawine Collingwood.
N77/8 2 April 1694
(1) Charles, Earl of Carlisle
(2) John Creswell of Heddon on the Wall, GentlemanLease by (1) to (2) of a messuage in Heddon on the Wall for 21 years, rent £11(?)0s.3d.Mark of (2).
N77/12 2 April 1694
(1) Charles, Earl of Carlisle
(2) William Creswell of Heddon on the Wall, GentlemanLease by (1) to (2) of a messuage at Heddon on the Wall for 21 years, rent£8.14s.10d.
N77/23 25 April 1718
(1) Charles, Earl of Carlisle
(2) Barbary Craswell of Heddon on the Wall, widow
Counterpart lease by (1) to (2) of part of a farmhold at Heddon for 21 years, £17.13s.11d.
N77/4 20 January 1656
(1) Martyn Fenwicke of Kyneton, Northumberland, Gentleman and Elizabethhis wife
Robert Fenwicke of Kyneton, Gentleman
(2) Hon. Charles Howard of Naward Castle, Cumberland, Esq.
Henry Widdrington of Blackheddon, Esq.For £150 the Fenwickes grant to Howard and Widdrington a farmhold or tenementin Heddon upon the Wall, now or late in the possession or occupation of JohnCreswell, Yeoman.Signed by the three Fenwickes; Martin in presence of Will. Widdrington, CharlesSelby and Gawine Collingwood, Elizabeth in that of Nicholas Whitehead and ThomasHarte, and Robert of Will. Widdrington, Tho. Hankin(?), Gawine Collingwood.
N77/8 2 April 1694
(1) Charles, Earl of Carlisle
(2) John Creswell of Heddon on the Wall, GentlemanLease by (1) to (2) of a messuage in Heddon on the Wall for 21 years, rent £11(?)0s.3d.Mark of (2).
N77/12 2 April 1694
(1) Charles, Earl of Carlisle
(2) William Creswell of Heddon on the Wall, GentlemanLease by (1) to (2) of a messuage at Heddon on the Wall for 21 years, rent£8.14s.10d.
N77/23 25 April 1718
(1) Charles, Earl of Carlisle
(2) Barbary Craswell of Heddon on the Wall, widow
Counterpart lease by (1) to (2) of part of a farmhold at Heddon for 21 years, £17.13s.11d.
Peter Ryder very kindly had a look at the house for us in July 2017:
Had a brief squint at the house this morning, just from the gate. On the grounds of its slight asymmetry and the integral rear outshut I would have put the house a little earlier than 1821 – perhaps the end of the 18th century, but not significantly so. Certainly pre-Victorian; if it is 1821 then it is pretty conservative for the date, but maybe that is the way things were…
Had a brief squint at the house this morning, just from the gate. On the grounds of its slight asymmetry and the integral rear outshut I would have put the house a little earlier than 1821 – perhaps the end of the 18th century, but not significantly so. Certainly pre-Victorian; if it is 1821 then it is pretty conservative for the date, but maybe that is the way things were…
RSS Feed
